1 00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:04,320 All right, nothing else. We'll get started. 2 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:08,280 Let's just open with a prayer. Word of prayer. 3 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:12,480 The only Father I just, I give you this evening. 4 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:17,520 Lord, it says we open your word. Father, I just pray that you 5 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:23,520 take my jumbled thoughts and just put them into a word that 6 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:28,000 people can understand. Father that you just, you speak 7 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:30,960 through me. Father, I just I, I, I, I look 8 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:34,360 at your word and I just my desire is to be your servant 9 00:00:35,160 --> 00:00:39,920 Lord, to use me however you, you see fit. 10 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:43,400 Lord, I just thank you for this time and this opportunity to 11 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:47,600 just to, to be with, with my brethren in this church. 12 00:00:48,160 --> 00:00:49,960 Lord, they, they are an encouragement to me. 13 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:53,520 So just bless this time in Jesus name, Amen. 14 00:00:55,080 --> 00:01:01,440 So is mistaken, as I went through this, we're first John 15 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:07,000 chapter 3, seven through 24 at the end of the chapter. 16 00:01:11,320 --> 00:01:13,440 So I'm just going to read that and then we're just going to 17 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:17,960 kind of break it down. So first John chapter 3, verse 18 00:01:17,960 --> 00:01:21,480 7, little children, let no one deceive you. 19 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:26,120 He who practice righteousness is righteous, and just as he is 20 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:29,160 righteous, he who sins of the devil. 21 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:32,680 For the devil has sinned from the the beginning, and for this 22 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:37,680 purpose the son of of God was manifest, that he might destroy 23 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:40,800 the works of the devil. Who has ever been born of God 24 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:44,040 does not sin, for he is the seed, for his seed remains in 25 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:47,200 him, and he cannot sin because he has been born of God. 26 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:52,160 Verse 10. And this children of in this the 27 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:54,920 children of God and the children of the devil are manifest. 28 00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:58,800 Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor 29 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:01,080 is he who does not love his brother. 30 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:03,760 For this is the message that you've heard from the beginning, 31 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:08,080 that we should love one another not as Kane who was of wicked, 32 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:11,560 was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. 33 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:14,520 And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and 34 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:18,080 his brothers was righteous. Do not marvel, my brethren, if 35 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:20,440 the world hates you. We do. 36 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:25,080 We know that we have passed from death to life because we love 37 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:27,640 the brethren. He who does not love his brother 38 00:02:27,640 --> 00:02:31,000 abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is is 39 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:34,560 a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life 40 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:38,360 abiding in him by this. We know love because he had laid 41 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:41,880 his life down for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for 42 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:45,320 the brethren. But whoever has this world's 43 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:48,440 goods and sees his brother in needs and shuts up his heart 44 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:51,240 from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 45 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:55,720 My little children, let us not love in the world or in tongue, 46 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:59,640 but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are 47 00:02:59,640 --> 00:03:02,160 the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 48 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:06,000 For if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts. 49 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:10,320 And knowing all things, beloved, if our hearts does not condemn 50 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:14,280 us, we have confidence towards God and whatever He asks we 51 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:19,440 receive from Him because He has kept His commandments and and do 52 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:22,680 those things that are pleasing in his sight. 53 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:26,240 And this is his commandment that we should believe in the name of 54 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:29,960 his Son Jesus Christ and love one another as he gave us 55 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:35,920 commandment. So in verse 7 he starts out that 56 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:39,000 little trailer will let no one deceive you who practice 57 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:44,120 righteousness or he who practice righteousness is righteous for 58 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:47,760 just as he is righteous he has he who sins is of the devil and 59 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:50,200 the devil is sin from the beginning for the purpose of the 60 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:52,800 son of God was manifest that he might destroy the works of the 61 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:55,400 devil. Whoever is born of God does not 62 00:03:55,400 --> 00:04:00,280 sin for his seed remains in him and he cannot sin because he's 63 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:03,240 been born of God. So this sets up the idea of the 64 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:09,120 children of God. Dear John states who redefined 65 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:11,720 who is the child of God or the child of the devil through the 66 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:13,520 actions of love and righteousness. 67 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:15,680 This is the message from the beginning. 68 00:04:17,399 --> 00:04:22,360 John 1334 through 35 says a new commandment I give to you that 69 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:25,520 you love one another as I have loved you and also love one 70 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:27,240 another. By this we know that you are my 71 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:29,200 disciples if you have loved one another. 72 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:34,480 And again in 1512 through 13, this is my commandment that you 73 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:36,280 love one another as I have loved you. 74 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:42,320 Greater love has no one has has no one that than this to lay 75 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:47,000 down his life for his friends. So these commandments begin to 76 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:51,680 take root in our lives as as we study them and as as we grow as 77 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:56,640 Christians. This the love of God is is is 78 00:04:56,640 --> 00:05:02,840 that thing that should take root and it says it kind of says in 79 00:05:02,840 --> 00:05:04,440 there. So we are both of God. 80 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:15,280 Hang on, take your lives when we are born of God, we cannot sin. 81 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:21,320 You know the perpetual life of of sin. 82 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:27,240 We cannot sin continually is what I'm trying to say You know 83 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:32,000 we make mistakes and we do things but that perpetual life 84 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,840 of that we lived in the past. You know, we all have that past 85 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:39,520 where what was most important, the things that we did, the 86 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:42,880 things that we, we choose to do for ourselves. 87 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:44,880 And that's where that sin comes in. 88 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:50,160 But as we, as we grow and as we, we see God, we put those things 89 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:58,160 behind us and the sin of our lives begins to fade away. 90 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:03,840 And those mistakes that we make, we, we ought to go to God. 91 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:07,280 We take them to him. We, you know, put them before 92 00:06:07,280 --> 00:06:09,120 him. So we don't live in that in that 93 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:13,560 life of continual sin because that I said that love of God 94 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:18,840 begins to dwell on US. Verses 10 and 12. 95 00:06:18,840 --> 00:06:28,760 Let's see here and this the children of God and the children 96 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:31,000 of the devil are manifest. Whoever does not practice 97 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:34,800 righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his 98 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:37,240 brother. For this is the message we've 99 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:39,960 heard from the beginning, that he should love one another, not 100 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:42,600 as Cain who was wicked or one who'd murdered his brother. 101 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:45,640 And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and 102 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:56,720 his brother was righteous. So these are the foundations of 103 00:06:56,720 --> 00:06:59,800 our, of our faith. When this kind of love is 104 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:05,400 manifest in our life, we know we are a child of God and but her 105 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:08,640 are these others. Cain, you know, not as Cain. 106 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:10,640 He murdered his brother. Why? 107 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:14,280 Because his works were evil. You know, Cain was, was self 108 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:19,040 motivated. He not, I hear something the 109 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:22,160 other day. Cain was, was such a bad man. 110 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:25,040 He at the very beginning he killed 1/3 of the population of 111 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:31,720 the world, I mean, or 1/4 of it. But I think, you know, Cain 112 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:37,280 strived to do what was right, but it was his gift was that of 113 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:41,760 what I could give, you know, out of well, I want to give, but 114 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:43,760 it's not it's not going to cost me too much. 115 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:47,280 Where he sees his brother Abel give of the first fruits. 116 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:55,640 That which is comes from from the heart that come that those 117 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:58,720 are the righteous acts that we we seek to to show. 118 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:06,240 And the world hates that the world hates that we are giving 119 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:13,760 of, of our best, you know, we, I don't want to put it, you know, 120 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:22,280 I keep what is mine and I give if as long as it doesn't hurt me 121 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:26,040 too much or it, it, it doesn't take away from what I have and I 122 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:29,640 can still go along in the world, that's what I'm willing to give. 123 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:35,159 But as Christians, we we desire to to give of what we have to 124 00:08:35,159 --> 00:08:37,360 give from what God's called us to do. 125 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:47,120 You know, this seems a clear and defined life. 126 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:50,400 We walk a fine line. The Pharisees were righteous, 127 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:54,040 but they didn't have any love and love without righteousness 128 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:59,040 makes 1A partner with the devil and is almost it's all in the 129 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:01,480 motivation. Both sides are self motivating, 130 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:03,320 seeking only to show how great I am. 131 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:06,520 You know, we have that fake gooey love that makes you think 132 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:11,040 that what are they up to? You know, when people show you 133 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:13,680 that love and it's just, you know, you know, Victoria and I 134 00:09:13,680 --> 00:09:18,280 were talking about it is just that, that intoxicated state of 135 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:21,040 mind that we, we show love towards one another. 136 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:24,480 But it's you're truly seeking something from somebody else. 137 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:33,360 I think that's where we got this stuff, Vic. 138 00:09:37,680 --> 00:09:45,200 Excuse me? Yeah. 139 00:09:47,680 --> 00:09:52,400 The, the, the, the child of God has to has a balance in this 140 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:55,680 righteousness. We have to balance our lives and 141 00:09:55,680 --> 00:09:58,400 those things around us and we have to balance that love 142 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:05,320 towards others. We don't want to put ourselves 143 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:09,560 out there to a point that we can be taken advantage of. 144 00:10:09,560 --> 00:10:15,920 But there are that that steps that I don't want to say it. 145 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:21,080 We need to be we need to be vulnerable in in certain 146 00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:33,320 aspects, but just move on. John 313 do not marvel, my 147 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:34,600 brethren, if the world hates you. 148 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:47,120 Matthew, I didn't get to Matthew 20 verse 22 someplace and it'll 149 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:50,400 be and you will be hated for all my name's sake, but he who 150 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:51,920 endures to the end will be saved. 151 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:58,600 John 1714 I've given you them your word and the word was hated 152 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:01,720 them because they were not of the world, just as I am not of 153 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:04,880 the world here. Jesus had warned his disciples 154 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:11,600 that this would come when we stand in the gap, we stand in 155 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:13,080 that gap. We declared the love and the 156 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:18,360 light of Christ darkness will come against us and some of us 157 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:20,800 are shocked when this happens, but it's truly a part of life 158 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:22,160 and the calling that we are given. 159 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:27,400 You know we early on in our Christian lives. 160 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:30,960 We we want to be bold for our faith. 161 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:36,040 We want to go out and we have that that new spark. 162 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:39,560 I remember times back in Denver going out and doing St. ministry 163 00:11:39,560 --> 00:11:41,280 and you have that desire to do that. 164 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:45,960 But then when that persecution come comes against you, is that 165 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:50,320 that the enemy begins to tear down and chip away at that 166 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:52,760 faith. You know, if we are not 167 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:59,840 continually filled with that spirit, we tend to shy away from 168 00:11:59,840 --> 00:12:03,200 from from doing that. And that just, a lot of that 169 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:08,600 just comes from the maturity of, of being a witness for God, for 170 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:13,720 standing in that. And as, as we go on through 171 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:17,560 this, you'll see that it's, it's not just us as individuals, but 172 00:12:17,560 --> 00:12:20,400 it takes the whole body of Christ to be able to do this. 173 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:23,240 You know, I can't do anything on my own. 174 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:28,040 I mean, I can do all things through God who strengthens me. 175 00:12:28,680 --> 00:12:31,800 But it's the individuals in the body of Christ that actually 176 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:35,160 that, that, that strengthen me because they, they're standing 177 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:39,160 behind me and supporting me. It's like raising Moses arms in 178 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:43,520 the in the battle, you know, I, I trust and I, I, I, I rely upon 179 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:50,000 the the body of Christ first. John 314. 180 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:55,160 We know that we have passed from life to death because we love 181 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:58,080 the brethren. He who does not love his brother 182 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:02,160 abides in death without this love of salvation. 183 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:05,360 Without this love, salvation can be questioned. 184 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:08,680 John begins to lay out the working of this love. 185 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:11,600 The brethren is the body of Christ. 186 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:15,080 Do we pursue fellowship with other believers? 187 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:20,560 Even we are battered by unloving brothers and sisters. 188 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:22,800 Still I seek the fellowship with the body. 189 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:25,040 I do have family and that's important. 190 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:28,840 But when it comes down to it, this is family. 191 00:13:31,320 --> 00:13:32,960 This is the one that I can trust. 192 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:38,920 You know, the, the, the people that in the church that I have 193 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:41,840 met and I've come across the ones that can look past my 194 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:46,840 failings and see my heart. You know, the, when we, we 195 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:49,600 stumble in our, in our daily lives, who's the first person 196 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:53,000 people to tear us down? Our family members, you know, 197 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:56,200 they're just, they're Oh yeah, you, you, you, you call yourself 198 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:58,880 a Christian, but look what you've done or, or you've done 199 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:04,760 this and you know, and it's hard because we want to minister to 200 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:09,000 our family and we want to show that the life of Christ that it, 201 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:11,800 it's really hard to show love to some people sometime. 202 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:17,800 And it's, it's hard to show love to those that have such a hatred 203 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:21,120 towards God or think they know God. 204 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:25,400 And I'm OK, I don't need to hear your message because me and God, 205 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:29,720 my my brother's famous sayings as me and God got a got a plan, 206 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:31,360 You know, we, we, we've got an idea. 207 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:33,360 We've got a pact. You know, I'm good. 208 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:38,560 You know, we have an agreement. So it it, it's really hard to 209 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:43,920 to, to minister those people. Charles Spurgeon says this. 210 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:49,680 Do you love for the do you love them for Christ's sake? 211 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:54,280 Do you say to yourself, that is one of Christ's people. 212 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:56,520 This is the one who bears Christ's cross. 213 00:14:57,440 --> 00:14:59,120 That is the one of the children of God. 214 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:02,200 Therefore I love him and take delight in his company. 215 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:05,920 Then that is the evidence that you are not of the world. 216 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:10,320 You know, we could look at them and and and love them. 217 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:14,600 You know that again, it's, it's some of those family members. 218 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:16,920 They, they, they drive us hard, but we still have to love them. 219 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:20,280 You know, we still have to minister to them in some way. 220 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:25,480 You know, sometimes it's God gives you that there's you 221 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:27,120 you're not going to make any headway in that. 222 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:31,040 But till he actually comes out and says that, continue to love 223 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:37,800 them as Christ loves loves you. David Guzik says being a 224 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:40,000 Christian is more than saying I am a Christian. 225 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:43,880 There are in fact some who claim to be Christians who are not. 226 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:46,040 How can you know if you're one of these? 227 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:48,720 John's reply has been constant and simple. 228 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:52,000 There are three tests to measure the proof of a genuine Christian 229 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:55,120 the truth test, the love test, and the moral test. 230 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:59,120 If we believe in the Bible, if. If we believe in what the Bible 231 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:03,720 teaches is true, if we show the love of Jesus to others and and 232 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:07,200 if our conduct has been changed and is becoming more like Jesus, 233 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:09,840 then our claim to be a Christian can be proven true. 234 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:20,240 You know, I just again, it's all not necessarily out of outward 235 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:23,600 appearance. That's the easy thing to to do. 236 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:27,560 We can we can look the part. Yeah, we could be the actor on 237 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:31,760 the stage and and look like the perfect Christian, but what is 238 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:33,080 it? What's truly going on in our 239 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:36,960 hearts and in our own lives? You know what it what once we go 240 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:41,960 home and we shut that door is, is what I'm saying up here truly 241 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:46,360 being acted out in my life. You know, for many years that 242 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:50,600 wasn't the case. You know, God begins to work 243 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:54,840 and, and do things in my life that I, that I see. 244 00:16:55,480 --> 00:17:01,000 And again, a lot of that comes back to those interactions that 245 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:04,400 I have with the body of Christ. Nothing teaches me more. 246 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:08,240 I have the scripture, I have, I have my prayer life, I have all 247 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:11,400 these things, but it's that interaction through the body of 248 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:15,040 Christ that really teaches me how to be a better Christian. 249 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:23,920 316 By this we know love because he laid down his life for us, 250 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:26,400 and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 251 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:39,200 Excuse me, So what is love? I know we've all heard this 252 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:43,480 before, but what if we define love the wrong way? 253 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:46,720 Then we then we have either a pass or failed grade. 254 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:52,720 Excuse me, we have the Eros. Love. 255 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:55,800 That was the one word was one word for love. 256 00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:57,920 It described how we might guess from the world itself. 257 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:00,840 Erotic love, It refers to that sexual love. 258 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:04,520 Then there's the storgay, which was the second word for love. 259 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:07,800 It referred to a family love, the kind of love that is between 260 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:11,120 a parent and a child, between a family members in general. 261 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:16,400 Philea is the third word for love. 262 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:20,560 It is spoke of brotherly friendship, a fresh affection as 263 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:22,440 love. It is the love of deep 264 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:26,000 friendship and partnership. Flay of love might be described 265 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:29,080 as the highest love, what is capable without God's help. 266 00:18:30,360 --> 00:18:35,040 Yeah. And I I see, let me rephrase 267 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:39,080 that. I have seen this type of love 268 00:18:39,080 --> 00:18:44,600 being acted out in in in the church more than I do agape love 269 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:48,280 because it's easy. We go to a church and it's 270 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:52,160 becomes a Country Club. You know, we, we have our, our 271 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:55,520 groups and our friendships and, and I, I've been in many 272 00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:57,280 churches where you have your little cliques. 273 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:00,760 You know, you have this group that gets together and then 274 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:03,280 they're all friendships. But I'm sitting over here on 275 00:19:03,280 --> 00:19:06,640 this side of the church and I can't be in your group because 276 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:10,320 we have nothing in common. You know, we should have Christ 277 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:13,040 in common, but, but, but we don't because we're just here 278 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:15,800 because it's a Sunday afternoon and, or Sunday morning. 279 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:17,320 And what else are we supposed to be doing? 280 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:21,600 We we, we go to church and we have food and fellowship and 281 00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:25,040 then we go our part our ways and we forget about you for the rest 282 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:28,360 of the week unless you're in my sewing circle or my fishing 283 00:19:28,360 --> 00:19:34,760 circle or or whatever. But agape is the fourth word for 284 00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:38,400 love. It describes love that loves 285 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:41,480 without changing. It is self giving love that 286 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:45,440 gives without demanding and expecting repayment is love so 287 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:48,240 great that it can be given to the unlovable and unpeeling. 288 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:53,280 It is the love that even with when it is rejected, agape love 289 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:55,240 gives and loves because it wants to. 290 00:19:55,480 --> 00:19:58,480 It does not demand or expect repayment for the love given. 291 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:01,880 It gives because it loves. It does not love in order to 292 00:20:01,880 --> 00:20:05,200 receive. And this is the love that Christ 293 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:11,000 showed He he gave of himself, that it was no nothing in 294 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:17,960 return. We can confuse love and wind up 295 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:20,600 being hurt. You know the word love has 296 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:25,440 gotten men into trouble more times than anything it comes 297 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:28,080 from. It comes out freely with a 298 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:31,880 selfish desire, but loves, but true love. 299 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:38,800 The example that God laid out. Romans 568 But when we were 300 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:41,680 still without strength, in due time Christ died for the 301 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:44,400 ungodly. For scarcely of a righteous man 302 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:48,120 will one die, yet perhaps for a good man, someone who could even 303 00:20:48,120 --> 00:20:51,160 dare to die. But God demonstrated his own 304 00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:53,840 love towards us and that while we are still sinners, Christ 305 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:57,400 died for us. You know that that ultimate 306 00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:02,080 gift, that of of laying one down one's life down for another. 307 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:06,320 Jesus death was not necessary the ultimate demonstration of 308 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:13,600 love, but it shows us that love shows us that that love it is 309 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:16,680 finished. That last gasp, the life up to 310 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:18,240 that point, you know, that was love. 311 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:25,680 You know, did Christ went to the cross for our sins and he died 312 00:21:25,680 --> 00:21:30,080 and paid that price. He didn't need to, you know, he 313 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:35,520 prayed that that cup would pass, that something else can be done, 314 00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:39,520 but he can, He finished it. He went through it to that, to 315 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:47,720 that very last breath. In a in a sermon titled The 316 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:50,560 Death of Christ for His People, Charles Spurgeon drew three 317 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:54,840 points from this great sentence. How great must have been our 318 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:59,360 sins, how great must have been his love, and how safe the 319 00:21:59,360 --> 00:22:03,400 believer in the love of Christ. The security we have in Christ 320 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:05,400 should translate to others in our lives. 321 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:08,280 Jesus prayer for the disciples before he went to the cross 322 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:11,680 showed his heart, showed the love of Jesus to others. 323 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:15,040 And if our conduct has been changed and is becoming more 324 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:18,480 like Jesus, then our claim to be a Christian can be proven true. 325 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:27,960 You know, it's just every time I read through these things and, 326 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:33,720 and, and, and see that and begin to understand that even more. 327 00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:37,120 I mean, I don't think there's any greater concept in the, in 328 00:22:37,120 --> 00:22:40,480 the whole Bible, but the, the love of God towards us. 329 00:22:41,480 --> 00:22:44,640 I mean, from the very beginning, you know, in the beginning, he 330 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:45,960 created the heavens and the earth. 331 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:49,080 Why? Because he created a people that 332 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:54,000 would have fellowship with him to, to love him where we went 333 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:58,000 off the rails because sin entered the, the earth. 334 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:02,080 And that whole time he's been working to bring us back to 335 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:04,240 that. I mean that there's no greater 336 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:15,640 love than that. I don't know. 337 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:19,360 I don't know where I went wrong with that, but I did. 338 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:28,640 Excuse me, John, 17, 16 through 18. 339 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:34,720 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 340 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:38,440 Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth. 341 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:41,760 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 342 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:46,480 We may never come to the point of actually dying for someone, 343 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:48,400 but the sacrifice should be the same. 344 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:52,600 Is my life more important than another? 345 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:56,360 Am I willing to do whatever it takes to further the gospel? 346 00:23:57,280 --> 00:24:00,800 These are heavy concepts, but to put it simply, we must excuse. 347 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:08,240 But to put it simply, we, we must excuse us from the 348 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:13,880 equation. I'm not part of it. 349 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:17,480 We, he calls us to do these things. 350 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:20,040 We are not of the world, we are of Him. 351 00:24:21,440 --> 00:24:25,600 My needs are not important, and we must meet the needs of the 352 00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:29,680 church and the people around us. If, if God has blessed us out of 353 00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:31,920 the abundance, we should bless others. 354 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:35,720 There are so many who need help, but I've seen this body step up 355 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:38,640 and meet the needs and that's encouraging. 356 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:42,520 We talked about ministering to others in many ways, but as the 357 00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:45,920 saying goes, talk is cheap. Our hearts must be open. 358 00:24:45,920 --> 00:24:49,520 The needs are more than financial or worldly goods. 359 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:53,840 These are important, but you have to be cautious in that you 360 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:59,440 know, we've today's society wants to take advantage of the 361 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:03,240 church. You know, we are called to, to 362 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:07,920 meet those, those deeds and, and benevolence and the, the, the 363 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:10,960 person, the homeless person on the street or the, the, the 364 00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:12,640 person that walks through that door. 365 00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:17,960 But we need to enter in these things in prayer. 366 00:25:18,360 --> 00:25:22,840 We can't just hand out money or, or things to people without 367 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:28,920 truly being in a prayerful life. Because again, there's, there's 368 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:30,800 so many people that take advantage of the church 369 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:33,160 nowadays. I mean, how many of these people 370 00:25:33,160 --> 00:25:37,960 out here on the streets, they're panhandling are making, you 371 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:41,400 know, 6 figures a year. You know, there's some of these 372 00:25:41,400 --> 00:25:43,640 guys, they look like they don't have a dime in their pot, but 373 00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:45,800 they're making, you know, a couple $100,000 a year. 374 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:48,880 So you just do things as God leads. 375 00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:55,680 David Guzik says this. What is the limit to this kind 376 00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:57,560 of love? The only limit is the one that 377 00:25:57,560 --> 00:26:00,640 love itself imposes when giving to a person. 378 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:03,840 If meeting is perceived or immediate need does him harm 379 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:07,800 instead of good, then loving thing to do is not to give him 380 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:10,200 what he asked for, but instead to give him what he really 381 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:15,120 needs. Chapter Lewis says it is easier 382 00:26:15,120 --> 00:26:18,760 to be enthusiastic about humanity with a capital H than 383 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:22,360 it is to love individual men and women, especially those who are 384 00:26:22,360 --> 00:26:25,720 uninteresting, exasperating, depraved, or otherwise 385 00:26:25,720 --> 00:26:28,560 unattractive. Loving everybody in general may 386 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:32,240 be an excuse for loving nobody in particular. 387 00:26:36,640 --> 00:26:39,360 And finally, first John 319 through 21. 388 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:43,280 And by this we know that we are the truth, and shall assure our 389 00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:46,880 hearts before Him, for our heart condemns us. 390 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:50,360 Great God is greater than our heart and knows these things. 391 00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:53,720 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence 392 00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:59,920 toward God to know that we are of the truth and stand right 393 00:26:59,920 --> 00:27:02,000 before Him. That can be a heavy burden. 394 00:27:02,760 --> 00:27:04,560 Am I doing all that God commands? 395 00:27:05,640 --> 00:27:10,120 Am IA vigilant prayer warrior? Or in this context, am I loving 396 00:27:10,120 --> 00:27:14,640 the brother that in all that I have, That assurance is 397 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:17,600 essential? We need to know I am truly 398 00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:20,280 saved. Am I walking with the Lord? 399 00:27:20,280 --> 00:27:24,000 Did my bad day stumble me and pull me out of the grace of God? 400 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:28,880 You know they all have those things did did what I did. 401 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:31,880 Is that truly? Am I still walking with God? 402 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:40,960 God knows our hearts have those. We may have those convictions of 403 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:43,040 the heart, but God is greater than our heart. 404 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:48,800 First Corinthians 4-5 through 4 For I know nothing against 405 00:27:48,800 --> 00:27:51,320 myself, yet I am not justified by this. 406 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:53,640 But he who judges me is the Lord. 407 00:27:54,440 --> 00:27:57,560 Therefore, judge nothing before the time until the Lord comes, 408 00:27:58,600 --> 00:28:01,960 who will both bring it to light the hidden things of darkness, 409 00:28:01,960 --> 00:28:04,560 and reveal the counsels of the hearts. 410 00:28:05,680 --> 00:28:10,000 Then each one praises will come from God. 411 00:28:12,280 --> 00:28:16,120 You know, our perfections and misdeeds are outward and 412 00:28:16,120 --> 00:28:19,240 foolish. God is watching the intent and 413 00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:23,280 the dedication that we have towards His children against 414 00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:26,080 Spurgeon says this. He says sometimes our heart 415 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:31,160 condemns us, but in doing so it gives a wrong verdict and we 416 00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:34,240 have the satisfaction of being able to take the case to a 417 00:28:34,240 --> 00:28:36,720 higher court. For God is greater than our 418 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:38,920 heart, and know knoweth all things. 419 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:43,680 Romans 816. For the Spirit himself bears 420 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:46,160 witness with our spirit that we are children of God. 421 00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:52,680 In these things we have all confidence in God and our hearts 422 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:56,280 should be at peace, which leads to a prayer life that is filled 423 00:28:56,280 --> 00:29:05,080 with hope. First, John 3/22 Whatever we 424 00:29:05,080 --> 00:29:09,080 ask, we receive from him because we keep His commandments and do 425 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:11,000 those things that are pleasing in His sight. 426 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:16,360 As we become in that intimate communion into that into 427 00:29:16,360 --> 00:29:19,080 communion, our hearts and our desires change. 428 00:29:19,600 --> 00:29:23,320 We no longer seek after worldly goods and wisdom, but the things 429 00:29:23,320 --> 00:29:25,840 of God. Don't get me wrong, God does 430 00:29:25,960 --> 00:29:28,880 care about our wants and our desires, but how important do 431 00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:33,240 they become as life grows closer to His heart, we see the needs 432 00:29:33,240 --> 00:29:36,280 of others being met his hand in the life of that person or the 433 00:29:36,280 --> 00:29:39,960 blessing for that one. But when I least expected God 434 00:29:39,960 --> 00:29:42,000 comes along and fulfills one of my needs. 435 00:29:43,480 --> 00:29:47,880 It's my focus is not on me but on others and God will use 436 00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:52,160 somebody in my life Now one of the the greatest blessings that 437 00:29:53,160 --> 00:29:54,480 that I've we've had in our lives. 438 00:29:54,480 --> 00:29:58,400 Victoria and I, many years ago, we were both down with, with our 439 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:01,200 knees out. You know, I had both my knees 440 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:03,760 gone, Victoria had an ACL out and here we are. 441 00:30:03,760 --> 00:30:11,520 We're stuck on a couch for 3-4 weeks and we've always been busy 442 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:13,160 and about doing things for other people. 443 00:30:13,160 --> 00:30:15,720 Then all of a sudden we can't do anything yet. 444 00:30:15,720 --> 00:30:19,440 But the church came together and we have people that are coming 445 00:30:19,440 --> 00:30:22,480 in, bringing us meals. People are coming in and 446 00:30:22,480 --> 00:30:26,960 cleaning our house, grabbing our laundry, taking out and doing 447 00:30:26,960 --> 00:30:32,640 our laundry. And yeah, it's the thing that 448 00:30:32,640 --> 00:30:35,520 kept coming to mind was be still and know that I am. 449 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:39,680 Lord, You know, we're trying to, we, we sat down, we just spent a 450 00:30:39,680 --> 00:30:43,520 lot of time in prayer and study and watch God really move. 451 00:30:43,520 --> 00:30:49,920 And sometimes we don't want people to bless us with certain 452 00:30:49,920 --> 00:30:50,800 things. We want it. 453 00:30:50,800 --> 00:30:53,280 We want to be able to be the one that's doing everything very 454 00:30:53,280 --> 00:30:55,600 best. But just on a side note on this, 455 00:30:55,840 --> 00:30:59,600 allow people to bless you, allow them to come into your life and 456 00:30:59,600 --> 00:31:03,280 to give you those blessings because it's it's an honor to do 457 00:31:03,280 --> 00:31:05,840 that for other people. And if we rob them of their 458 00:31:05,840 --> 00:31:11,080 blessings, yeah, it's whatever. That's that's just kind of a 459 00:31:11,080 --> 00:31:20,720 side note on that. But So what does the Lord's 460 00:31:20,720 --> 00:31:24,480 praise, Lord's Prayer say? It says not my will, but your 461 00:31:24,480 --> 00:31:27,720 will be done too many years. I've worried about so many 462 00:31:27,720 --> 00:31:30,960 things and I've released my grip and purpose to serve him and 463 00:31:30,960 --> 00:31:35,040 that weight is being lifted. You know, as I as I, I, I step 464 00:31:35,040 --> 00:31:37,720 forward and, and I want to do these things for God. 465 00:31:38,520 --> 00:31:45,120 The the weights and, and the worries and are are being lifted 466 00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:46,920 up. I'm not so worried about what 467 00:31:46,920 --> 00:31:50,000 the future holds anymore, you know, because I can't. 468 00:31:50,040 --> 00:31:53,920 It's whatever God wants, wherever He wants to use me, use 469 00:31:53,920 --> 00:31:59,520 me. And then finally first John 323 470 00:31:59,520 --> 00:32:03,760 through 24 And this is His commandment, that we should 471 00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:06,920 believe that in the name of the Son of Jesus Christ and love one 472 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:09,120 another as He gave us commandment. 473 00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:12,720 Now He who keeps His commandments abides in him and 474 00:32:12,720 --> 00:32:16,960 in him, and he and him. And by this we know that He 475 00:32:16,960 --> 00:32:20,320 abides us by the Spirit whom God has given us. 476 00:32:21,560 --> 00:32:24,440 Finally, John brings the idea of keeping his commandments in full 477 00:32:24,440 --> 00:32:29,600 circle, circle and states them I'm in Matthew 23 through 3037 478 00:32:29,600 --> 00:32:33,200 through 39. He says Jesus said to him, you 479 00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:35,360 shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all 480 00:32:35,360 --> 00:32:36,800 your soul, and with all your mind. 481 00:32:37,000 --> 00:32:39,960 This is the first and great commandment and the second is 482 00:32:39,960 --> 00:32:41,800 like it. You shall love your neighbors 483 00:32:41,800 --> 00:32:45,320 yourself. These two commandments merge and 484 00:32:45,320 --> 00:32:47,520 become one. Our belief in Jesus is the key 485 00:32:47,520 --> 00:32:50,800 to it all. Our eyes are fixed upon him and 486 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:56,400 we abide in him. The Romans 8-9 But you are not 487 00:32:56,400 --> 00:32:59,120 in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God 488 00:32:59,120 --> 00:33:02,160 dwells in you. Now, if anyone does not have the 489 00:33:02,160 --> 00:33:08,560 Spirit of Christ, he is not his. You know, to sum all this up, 490 00:33:08,560 --> 00:33:12,000 you know I have seen a lot happen. 491 00:33:12,000 --> 00:33:17,480 I've, I've, I've been a part of this church body for I don't 492 00:33:17,480 --> 00:33:19,840 know how many years. Atlanta knows it's been a long, 493 00:33:19,840 --> 00:33:23,720 long time, but we've seen a lot of good things happen and we've 494 00:33:23,720 --> 00:33:28,000 seen a lot of bad things happen. But I can, I can say sure for 495 00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:32,400 sure today in this church body, love abounds here. 496 00:33:33,960 --> 00:33:36,440 You know, there's, there's a there's a love of this core 497 00:33:36,440 --> 00:33:40,800 group of believers that I've never experienced in my entire 498 00:33:40,800 --> 00:33:44,920 life as a Christian. Take confidence in him and abide 499 00:33:45,320 --> 00:33:49,720 because I feel loved here and I know you guys love each other 500 00:33:50,320 --> 00:33:55,520 and and I'm grateful for that. Let's pray Heavenly Father, I 501 00:33:55,520 --> 00:34:00,480 just thank you that we can come to you and, and know your love 502 00:34:02,760 --> 00:34:07,520 as as we we seek you, you you fill us with your spirit. 503 00:34:08,080 --> 00:34:12,320 You give us direction, Father, I pray that we we can go forth and 504 00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:15,719 continue to, to love this community and know it's the 505 00:34:15,719 --> 00:34:19,600 heart heart of our pastor and his and his wife to to minister 506 00:34:19,600 --> 00:34:22,400 to this community. Father, I pray that we can be a 507 00:34:22,400 --> 00:34:30,480 useful tool here, that we can grow as as a body, if not in 508 00:34:30,480 --> 00:34:34,440 numbers, Lord, but in love for you and for those around us. 509 00:34:34,440 --> 00:34:37,400 Lord, thank you for this evening and this time. 510 00:34:37,400 --> 00:34:40,360 I pray safety as we as we travel home from here tonight, Lord, 511 00:34:40,880 --> 00:34:43,280 and thank you for all these things and praise in Jesus name, 512 00:34:43,679 --> 00:34:46,760 Amen. That's all I got.